You may remember in our previous blog post on keeping safe in the bathroom, we touched on electrical products that you need to keep an eye on to prevent them from going ‘live’, which can cause serious harm.

When you require any new electrical installation in your bathroom, there are other points to consider, such as employing a Part P electrician or plumber and notifying your local authority. To help you make an informed decision on the right person to employ and what Part P entails, Victorian Plumbing has come up with some tips and guidance below.

What is Part P?

You’ve probably heard of Part P, but aren’t too sure what it is. Part P of the Building Regulations was introduced as part of a set of electrical safety rules, which are aimed to protect against any injury caused by electrical hazards.

It states that all fixed electrical work in England and Wales must be carried out by someone with the appropriate knowledge, and that some electrical installations need your local authority to be notified.

Work must be carried out by a registered Part P electrician or plumber. A non-registered electrical installer, who has been appointed by a registered third party certifier to carry out inspection and testing of the installation work during and on competition, can also carry out electrical work.

What electrical work needs to be notified?

Before you start any electrical work in your home, we suggest that you double check that your local authority needs to be informed. This work includes:

● Installation of a new circuit
● Replacement of a fuse-box
● Alteration to an existing circuit

It is a legal requirement for all homeowners and landlords to ensure that all electrical work complies with Part P, and if it doesn’t your local authority can make you remove any work that they deem unsafe.

If you wish to do any DIY work in your bathroom, you are still allowed to do minor adjustments that include adding a new bathroom light fitting (provided it isn’t in a wet area), which is not notifiable. Just make sure you have the correct IP rated light for the correct zone, and in any doubt check the general rules of BS7671.

Points to consider before employing an electrician or plumber to do work in your bathroom

So now you know a little bit more about Part P of the Building Regulations (if you didn’t already). We have some guidance tips on what to consider when employing someone to undertake any electrical work in your house.

It is important to employ someone who has specialist knowledge in installing electrics, especially in the bathroom. Ask to see proof of their Part P qualification and that they are registered with a government approved scheme, which will help you ensure you are meeting the legal requirements needed as part of Part P.

Agree on a quote and schedule before any work commences. This will allow you to discuss the work that is needed by your electrician or plumber to ensure you don’t end up with any unknown costs or time delays.

I hope you’ve found these tips on installing electrics in your bathroom useful. Don’t forget to share your tips with us and share this article with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and Google+

Ally, Victorian Plumbing

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Ally

Ally is one of our bathroom bloggers here at Victorian Plumbing. She'll be posting updates on the latest bathroom trends and decorating tips. Look out for her bathroom buying guides and expert 'how to' step-by-step DIY guides.